RSS Calls for Nationwide NRC Amid Electoral Roll Revision

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has urged the government to implement a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) as the country's electoral rolls undergo a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the Census is underway. In a recent event at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), RSS publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar emphasized the need to identify individuals who have been inaccurately included in electoral rolls and ensure citizenship for those who have migrated to India from neighboring countries under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

According to Ambekar, the issue of population imbalance is a critical factor in the need for an NRC. He noted that India's partition was largely driven by this imbalance. With many people from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) and economically weaker sections facing persecution in neighboring countries that became Islamic states after 1947.

This historical context highlights the importance of addressing population imbalance. This has been a recurring theme in India's political discourse since the country's inception.

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The RSS has been advocating for a nationwide NRC for several years. In 2019, then-RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi emphasized that it was the government's responsibility to prepare an NRC to identify those who were not Indian citizens. In 2021, RSS chief Mohan, Bhagwat stated.

that the NRC was intended to determine who were genuine citizens and should not be viewed as a Hindu-Muslim issue. The National Population Commission, which is responsible for conducting the Census, has also highlighted the importance of identifying and addressing population imbalance.

The current Census questionnaire includes several questions that were also part of the 2020 NPR schedule. This includes nationality and details of parents, Aadhaar, and voter ID. The statutory framework provides for the verification of the Population Register for the preparation of the National Register of Indian Citizens.

Which includes identifying cases where citizenship may be considered doubtful. As the Census continues, concerns have been raised about the potential implications of an NRC on India's diverse population, with some experts warning that it could exacerbate existing social and economic tensions.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister of India, had also emphasized the importance of identifying and addressing population imbalance. In 1983, he had stated that the government had a responsibility to ensure that the population was balanced and that the country's unity, integrity, and security were protected. The current debate around an NRC is a continuation of this conversation.

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With the RSS calling for a nationwide register to address population imbalance and ensure citizenship for those who have migrated to India.

The Supreme Court has also been involved in the debate around NRC. With several cases being filed challenging the constitutionality of the Citizenship Amendment Act. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has faced criticism for its handling of the NPR and the CAA.

With many arguing that these policies disproportionately affect certain communities. The implementation of an NRC will likely be a contentious issue, with far-reaching consequences for India's electoral landscape and national security.